Since new surveillance laws passed in August, AFP officers also have the power to domestically spy on people by covertly accessing their devices, computers and online networks without the need for a warrant.
The agency can also make requests to access the GPS location data of mobile phones detected near the Quobba Blowholes phone tower on a particular day.
WA Police and the AFP declined to comment on how the AFP was assisting in the operation.
Detectives believe Cleo was snatched from her family’s tent at Quobba Blowholes campsite north of Carnarvon between 1.30am and 6am on October 16 as her parents slept just metres from her, separated by a divider.
WA Police has since revealed not everyone at the isolated campsite that evening was there the following day when police arrived, however Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde declined to comment on whether any witnesses had provided a description of the missing campers or their vehicles.
“Certainly [the campers] have been helpful providing us information, I won’t go into the specifics,” he said.
“We’ve tracked down over 100 people who were there that night, and we’ve spoken and interviewed those people.
“There may still be some people that were in the general vicinity of the blow holes that we’d ask to come forward.”
Witnesses reported a car screeching away from the site around 3am, and two travellers on the North West Coastal Highway said they saw a car turn south onto the highway from the 50 kilometre road that leads to the campsite around 3am or 3.30am.
Dr Tucker said satellite imagery during the night was less advanced for identifying or tracking a vehicle.
“You can see things like infrared and thermal imagery like heat vision and night vision but the resolution is really poor, so one car would be equivalent to one pixel,” he said.
CCTV from the limited surrounding roadhouses and businesses along the North West Coastal Highway has been seized by police, along with footage from a camera at one of the campsite beach shacks which detected Cleo’s voice on the Friday evening shortly after her family arrived.
The four-year old has been missing since October 16.
WA Police acting commissioner Col Blanch also confirmed Telstra was assisting with the investigation by providing the details of the mobile phone numbers which pinged towers in the area, and the phone records of any suspects.
Perth-based technology expert Ben Aylett said a person’s mobile could be tracked as long as it was turned on and connected to a network.
“That’s all you need for it to be able to ping a nearby cell tower,” he said.
“You can get a pretty rough idea of where a phone is, and then the investigator can go to Apple or Google and get a warrant or court order for them to then share more precise location information.”
WA Police is yet to reveal if it has any suspects.
A $1 million reward remains for anyone who provides information which leads to the whereabouts of Cleo.
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2021-10-28 22:27:41Z
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